I'm in my 30s now, and while I still have a lot to learn, the one thing I've learned is that there are some things that you should have learned earlier in life. If only someone had told me these things when I was younger. Hopefully, this list will help you avoid coming across anything like these in your own life.
Funny motivational quotes are the perfect form of motivation. They are a combination of knowledge, humor, and wit all rolled into one. However, it's not easy to find the ones that are really funny and actually true at the same time.
1. You don't owe anyone an explanation.
There are a lot of things that people think you should do in your 20s, but there are also a lot of things people think you shouldn't do. You're going to get advice from all sides (and then some), so it can be easy to feel like you need to justify yourself to everyone else around you. But the fact is, the only person whose opinion really matters when it comes down to it is yours, and if someone else's opinion starts making you feel bad about yourself or your choices, then they aren't worth listening to anyway.
You'll be amazed at how much better life feels once you decide not only what's right for YOU, but also when and how much energy you want/need/can put forth defending that decision.
2. People will value you more if you value yourself first.
This is a tough one because it's not always easy to tell when someone doesn't respect themselves. If you're constantly putting yourself down and thinking everyone else is better than you, people will pick up on that vibe, and they'll start treating you the same way. But if you have confidence in yourself and your abilities, then other people will have no choice but to see that too.
And when it comes to relationships with others, especially romantic relationships, it can be very difficult for two people who don't value each other as individuals or as partners to stay together for very long. There are exceptions of course (and perhaps some of these come from couples who value each other deeply but aren't able to communicate those feelings effectively), but generally speaking, if one person cares more than the other in any way, whether it's about their finances or their careers or their personal lives, then the relationship will eventually suffer as a result of that imbalance.
3. Nobody has it all figured out - not even the people you think do.
It's easy to think everyone else has it all figured out and that you're the only one who doesn't have a clue what you're doing. Don't compare yourself to other people, because no one has it all figured out, not even the people you think do. Everyone's life is different, and they're all going through different things at any given time in their lives, so don't compare yourself or feel bad about where you are right now in comparison with someone else.
Don’t stress if there are things still left on your list of “things I want to do before I die” because there will always be something else that catches your eye or interests you more than whatever was number one on your list (and this is also why my friend Hayden’s #3 tip was so important). Enjoy life while learning from mistakes made by others who came before us.
4. It's OK to not know what you want to do.
You may find yourself changing your mind a lot, which is totally normal. There's no shame in taking a break from school, getting a job that pays the bills and not fulfilling your dream of becoming an astrophysicist, then working at said boring job for years before finally realizing you hate it and going back to school, or starting something entirely new. It can take time to figure out what truly makes you happy. And that's fine. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with you just because things don't work out right away.
And as far as being uncertain about what direction life should take? Well, there are plenty of people who wish they were surer about their lives' paths too, so don't worry too much if you're feeling unsure or confused; chances are many other young folks are dealing with similar feelings right now too.
5. Don't rush into adulthood, whatever that means to you.
You don't have to rush into adulthood, whatever that means to you. You don't have to feel like you're behind the curve or feel like there's some deadline for when your life should be figured out by. There is no rulebook when it comes to growing up and being an adult, so stop thinking there is.
I know what it's like in my 20s: I'm always thinking about what's next and who I'm going to be in five years or 10 years, but here's the thing: those things aren't going to happen on their own time just because they're supposed to happen at a certain age. The only way these things will happen is if we put forth effort and energy into making them happen, and we'll do this best by not worrying so much about what other people think of us right now.
The best advice I can give anyone is simply this: take your time figuring out who you are as an individual person before trying too hard at figuring out where exactly everything fits into place (work-life balance). It may seem counterintuitive, but when we let go of our preconceived notions about how our lives should look by certain ages or stages of life, then magic happens.
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